[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Meeting of
the Town of Westwood as indicated in article histories. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 1982 ATM by Art. 26 (Art. 10, § 15
of the General Bylaws)]
[Amended 5-3-2010 ATM
by Art. 15]
For the purpose of this bylaw, the following
terms, phrases, words and their derivations shall have the meanings
given herein. When not inconsistent with the context, words used in
present tense include the future; words used in the singular number
include the plural number. The word "shall" is always mandatory and
not merely directory.
The term "alarm system" means an assembly of equipment and devices or a single device, such as a solid state unit which plugs directly into a one-hundred-ten-volt AC line, arranged to signal the presence of a hazard requiring urgent attention and to which police are expected to respond. Fire alarm systems and alarm systems which monitor temperature, smoke, humidity or any other condition not directly related to the detection of an unauthorized intrusion into a premises or an attempted robbery at a premises are specifically excluded from the provision of this bylaw. The provisions of § 175-3 of this bylaw shall apply to all users.
The term "false alarm" means:
Activation of an alarm system through mechanical failure, malfunction,
improper installation or negligence of the user of an alarm system
or of his employees or agents.
Any signal or oral communication transmitted to the Police Department
requesting or requiring or resulting in a response on the part of
the Police Department when, in fact, there has been no unauthorized
intrusion, robbery or burglary, or attempt thereat.
For the purposes of this definition, activation of alarm systems
by acts of God, including but not limited to power outages, hurricanes,
tornadoes, earthquakes, and similar weather or atmospheric disturbances,
shall not be deemed to be a false alarm.
A.
Every alarm user shall submit to the Police Chief
the names and telephone numbers of at least two other persons who
are authorized to respond to an emergency signal transmitted by an
alarm system and who can open the premises wherein the alarm system
is installed.
[Amended 5-3-2010 ATM
by Art. 15]
B.
All alarm systems installed after the effective date
of this bylaw which use an audible horn or bell shall be equipped
with a device that will shut off such horn or bell within 10 minutes
after activation of the alarm system.
C.
Any alarm system emitting continuous and uninterrupted signal for more than 15 minutes between 7:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. which cannot be shut off or otherwise curtailed due to the absence or unavailability of the alarm user or those persons designated by him under Subsection A of this section, and which disturbs the peace, comfort or repose of a community, a neighborhood or a considerable number of inhabitants of the area where the alarm system is located, shall constitute a public nuisance. Upon receiving complaints regarding such a continuous and uninterrupted signal, the Police Chief shall endeavor to contact the alarm user, or members of the alarm user's family, or those persons designated by the alarm user under Subsection A of this section in an effort to abate the nuisance. The Police Chief shall cause to be recorded the names and addresses of all complainants and time each complaint was made.
A.
Upon receipt of three or more false alarms within
a calendar year, the Police Chief may:
(1)
Order the user to discontinue the use of the alarm;
(2)
Disconnect any direct connections to the Police Department;
(3)
Order that further connections to the communications
console in the Police Department will be contingent upon the user
equipping any alarm system with a device that will shut off any audible
horn or bell within 10 minutes after activation of the alarm system.
B.
The user shall be assessed $50 as a false alarm service
fee for each false alarm in excess of three occurring within a calendar
year. All fees assessed hereunder shall be paid to the Town Treasurer
for deposit to the general fund.
[Adopted 1984 ATM by Art. 39 (Art. 16 of
the General Bylaws)]
[Amended 5-3-2010 ATM
by Art. 15]
For the purpose of this bylaw, the following
terms, phrases, words, and their derivations shall have the meanings
given herein. When not inconsistent with the context, words used in
present tense include the future; words used in the singular number
include the plural number. The word "shall" is always mandatory and
not merely directory.
The term "automatic dialer" means any device capable of transmitting
an alarm of fire to the Fire Department over a telephone line and
received in a recorded voice form by the Fire Department and may only
be used to report fire alarm activations.
The term "fire alarm system" means an assembly of equipment
and devices or a single device, such as a solid state unit which is
powered electrically or mechanically, arranged to signal the presence
of a hazard requiring urgent attention and to which the Fire Department
is expected to respond. Fire alarm systems monitor temperature, smoke,
extinguishing systems, and hazardous flammable gases and include manual
pull station. Any other condition not directly related to the detection
of fire is specifically excluded from the fire alarm system.
An individual or entity who owns title to and/or has, on
a business or residential premises, a fire alarm system equipped so
as to send a fire alarm signal to a central station operating company
or directly to the Westwood Fire Department by way of a master box.
[Added 1991 ATM by Art. 17]
Connection of a fire alarm system to the Westwood Fire Department
through a master box. Every master box owner whose fire alarm system,
on the effective date of this bylaw, is connected to the Westwood
Fire Department by way of a master box shall pay, on an annual basis,
fees for residential, business, or commercial property and any connection
or reconnection fees, as shall be established from time to time by
the Board of Selectmen after a public hearing.
[Added 1991 ATM by Art. 17]
The term "needless alarm" means activation of a fire alarm
system through mechanical failure, malfunction, improper installation
or negligence of the user of an alarm system or of his employees or
agents. For the purposes of this definition, activation of alarm systems
by acts of God, including but not limited to power outages, hurricanes,
tornadoes, earthquakes, and similar weather or atmospheric disturbances,
shall not be deemed to be a needless alarm.
A.
Every fire alarm user shall submit to the Fire Chief
the names and telephone numbers of at least two other persons who
are authorized to respond to an emergency signal transmitted by a
fire alarm system and who can open the premises wherein the fire alarm
system is installed.
B.
All automatic dialers shall use a telephone number
designated by the Fire Chief and installed in the Fire Department
specifically for automatic dialers. No published or listed telephone
number of the Fire Department may be used by any automatic dialer.
In the event of an automatic dialer not disconnecting from the designated
Fire Department telephone line, the Fire Chief may require that automatic
dialer be removed or replaced.
C.
The Town of Westwood Fire Department assumes no liability
if a call is missed or the line is tied up for any fire alarm reported
by an automatic dialer.
D.
A fee of $25 per year shall be charged payable at
the time of installation of an automatic dialer and on or before January
31 each year thereafter. This fee shall be paid to the Town Treasurer
for deposit in the general fund.
[Amended 1991 ATM by Art. 17]
E.
Connection of a fire alarm system to the Westwood
Fire Department through a master box. Every master box owner whose
fire alarm system on the effective date of this bylaw is connected
to the Westwood Fire Department by way of a master box shall pay the
following fees:
[Added 1991 ATM by Art. 17; amended 1994
ATM by Art. 6; 1996 ATM by Art. 26]
F.
Updating information. Every master box owner shall
be responsible, on an annual basis, for updating the information herein
required to be provided to the Fire Chief. The master box owner shall
provide the Fire Chief with the updated information and shall pay
the fee, if any, required by this bylaw. If a master box owner fails
to comply with this section, the Fire Chief may assess a fine of $50.
[Added 1991 ATM by Art. 17]
G.
Information to be provided.
[Added 1991 ATM by Art. 17]
(1)
Before any fire alarm system is connected to the Westwood
Fire Department, the master box owner shall provide the Fire Chief
with the following information:
(a)
The name, address and home and work telephone
numbers of the master box owner.
(b)
The street address where the master box is located.
(c)
The names, addresses and telephone numbers of
the persons or businesses protected by the fire alarm system connected
to the master box.
(d)
The names, addresses and home and work telephone
numbers of at least two persons other than the owner who can be contacted
24 hours a day, and who are authorized by the master box owner to
respond to an alarm signal and who have access to the premises in
which the master box is located.
(e)
Such other information as the Fire Chief may
require.
(2)
In the event a fire alarm system has been connected
to the Westwood Fire Department by way of a master box prior to the
adoption of this bylaw, the master box owner shall fully comply with
the requirements of this section within 60 days after notice, by first-class
mail, of the requirements of this section. If a master box owner fails
to comply with this section, the Chief may assess a fine of $50 per
day for each day of noncompliance.
H.
All newly permitted (commercial and/or multiunit residential)
buildings will be required to install a radio master fire alarm box
in place of the hard wire boxes now utilized.
[Added 5-2-2006 ATM by Art. 40]
I.
All newly permitted (commercial and/or multiunit residential)
buildings will be required to install a radio repeater system to bolster
and retransmit signals from portable radios during emergencies. Said
radio repeat system will be in accordance with the requirements and
specifications of the Fire Chief.
[Added 5-2-2006 ATM by Art. 39]
[Amended 1991 ATM by Art. 17]
A.
In the event of a fire alarm system needless alarm
as hereinbefore defined, the Fire Chief may assess a fine against
a fire alarm system owner for each such needless alarm per fiscal
year according to the following schedule:
(1)
First through third needless alarm: no fine will be
assessed. However, upon the receipt of the third needless alarm, the
Fire Chief shall notify the owner of the fire alarm system in writing
that there have been three needless alarms.
(2)
Fourth through sixth needless alarm: $100 per alarm.
(3)
Seventh through 11th needless alarm: $200 per alarm.
(4)
Each needless alarm after the 11th: $300 per alarm.
B.
Private fire alarm systems connected to the Westwood
Fire Department by other means, including automatic dialers and central
station systems, shall be subject to the same fine schedule.
C.
All fines assessed shall be paid to the Town of Westwood
for deposit in the general fund. If the fine is not paid within 30
days a final notice will be sent informing the owner and/or occupant
that the master box will be disconnected and the insurance company
notified.
D.
The Fire Chief, in addition to levying fines as provided
herein, may order the owner of an automatic dialer to discontinue
its use.
E.
Failure to pay the annual service fee within 30 days
after issuance of the bill may subject the owner of the system to
be fined $50 per day for each day that the service fee remains unpaid
and disconnection of the system at the discretion of the Fire Chief.
